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their reputation for arrogance when it comes to foreigners on their beat who don’t speak their language, you’ll find any attempt to communicate in French will be much appreciated. What is usually perceived as arrogance is often just a subtle objection to the assumption by many travellers that they should be able to speak English anywhere, in any situation, and be understood. You can easily avoid the problem by approaching people and addressing them in French. Even if the only sentence you can muster is Pardon, madame/monsieur, parlez-vous anglais? (Excuse me, madam/sir, do you speak English?), you’re sure to be more warmly received than if you stick blindly to English.

Be Polite!

Politeness pays dividends in Parisian daily life and the easiest way to make a good impression on Parisian merchants is always to say Bonjour Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle when you enter a shop, and Merci Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle, au revoir when you leave. Monsieur means ‘sir’ and can be used with any adult male. Madame is used where ‘Mrs’ or ‘Ma’am’ would apply in English. Officially, Mademoiselle (Miss) relates to unmarried women, but it’s much more common to use Madame, unless of course you know the person’s marital status! Similarly, if you want help or need to interrupt someone, approach them with Excusez-moi, Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle.

If you want to learn more French than we’ve included here, pick up a copy of Lonely Planet’s comprehensive but user-friendly French Phrasebook.

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SOCIAL

Meeting People

Going Out

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PRACTICAL

Question Words

Days

Banking

Post

Phones & Mobiles

Internet

Transport

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FOOD

Food Glossary

MEAT, CHICKEN & POULTRY

ORDERING A STEAK

FISH & SEAFOOD

VEGETABLES

FRUIT & NUTS

BASICS

DRINKS

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EMERGENCIES

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HEALTH

* * *

GLOSSARY

(m) indicates masculine gender, (f) feminine gender, (pl) plural and (adj) adjective

accueil (m) – reception (eg at a hotel)

adjoint (m) – deputy mayor

alimentation générale (f) – grocery store

ancien régime (m) – ‘old order’; France under the monarchy before the Revolution

apéritif (m) – a drink taken before dinner

arrondissement (m) – one of 20 administrative divisions in Paris; abbreviated on street signs as 1er (1st arrondissement), 2e or 2ème (2nd) etc

auberge (de jeunesse) (f) – (youth) hostel

avenue (f) – avenue (abbreviated av)

banlieues (f pl) – suburbs

belle époque (f) – ‘beautiful age’; era of elegance and gaiety characterising fashionable Parisian life roughly from 1870 to 1914

bière à la pression (f) – draught/draft beer

bière (f) – beer

bière blonde (f) – lager

billet (m) – ticket

billeterie (f) – ticket office or window

biologique or bio (adj) – organic

boucherie (f) – butcher

boulangerie (f) – bakery

boules (f pl) – a game played with heavy metal balls on a sandy pitch; also called pétanque

brasserie (f) – ‘brewery’; a restaurant that usually serves food all day long

brioche (f) – small roll or cake, sometimes made with nuts, currants or candied fruits

bureau de change (m) – currency exchange bureau

bureau des objets trouvés (m) – lost and found bureau, lost property office

cacher (adj) – kosher

café du quartier (m) – neighbourhood café

carnet (m) – a book of (usually) 10 bus, tram, metro or other tickets sold at a reduced rate

carrefour (m) – crossroads, intersection

carte (f) – card; menu; map

carte de séjour (f) – residence permit

cave (f) – (wine) cellar

chai (m) – wine storehouse

chambre (f) – room

chambre d’hôte (f) – private room, usually bed and breakfast

chanson française (f) – ‘French song’; traditional musical genre where lyrics are paramount

chansonnier (m) – cabaret singer

charcuterie (f) – a variety of pork products that are cured, smoked or processed, including sausages, hams, pâtés and rillettes; shop selling these products

cimetière (m) – cemetery

consigne (f)